Just because we are sometimes surrounded by turmoil, does not render powerless the treasure within to overcome every trial. A paraphrase I wrote of the referenced passage is "We are pressed on every side, but not crushed or hemmed in. We are sometimes at a loss for answers, but not at a total loss, because we know the One Who has the answers. We are pursued by the enemy from behind, but not abandoned by The One we are following up ahead. We are thrown down and tossed aside, but still able to recover and stand back up whole. In the midst of these things, we experience the difficulties Christ faced, so that the victories He achieved are also made manifest in our lives in the here and now. How can we do all this? By having His treasure in our earthen vessels..." God bless you and yours today, as you begin this new and exciting year of victorious living in Christ.